Theft of historic statue investigated

Monday, December 12, 2005

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The statue of Cesar was not stolen.

Cesar and Adela Gonzmart ran the historic Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City since the 1950s, and had a major impact on the area.

"It was often said that if it wouldn't have been for the Gonzmart family, Ybor City would have been completely gone at this time," said a restaurant employee.

Even after Cesar's death in 1992 and Adela's in 2001, bronze likenesses of the couple greeted customers as they entered the

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restaurant. However, on Sunday morning a manager arrived to find the statue of Adela was gone and the pedestal had been smashed.

"I was extremely upset," said the couple's granddaughter, Andrea Gonzmart. "You know, that's a symbol of my grandmother that I can look at every time I walk by the restaurant, every time I go in the restaurant."

The Gonzmart family thinks the suspect had help, as the pedestal is extremely heavy.

"They obviously had the right tools," said Gonzmart. "It's not like something you could do by hand."

Breaking the pedestal likely required the work of more than one.

Gonzmart said whether or not the statue is found, her grandmother's likeness will have a place at the restaurant, as the family plans to have a replacement made.

"We can't imagine not reproducing it and putting my grandmother back in her spot," said Gonzmart.

This time, both statues will be kept inside the restaurant, which opened in 1905.